In the heterosexual sense, there is such thing called gender roles. It is assigned to each individual and the individual is expected to act on the assigned role for example being masculine and feminine. Gender roles are there, because according to some people, it places things “in order”. When gender roles are not followed, then there is chaos, i.e. confusion.

In the LGBT circle, most especially in the lesbian circle ( because that’s where I belong), there are still gender roles. Most people I meet would always ask me “So, who’s the playing the feminine or masculine role between the 2 of you?”. Well, I always had a butch girlfriend (whether hardcore butch or soft butch) not because I want to have portray specific gender roles but because it happened as it is. But with that question being asked to me, I would usually say “I am the more feminine because I tend to dress girly sometimes”. Continue reading “Butch to butch, femme to femme, butch to femme: is it really an issue?”

The California Proposition 8 has been already out in the news and I guess you already know what happened, it was PASSED. 52.3% voted yes and 47.7% voted no. It was a close fight but we were not able to succeed. If you already know me personally, I am based here in the Manila and maybe you’re asking why I said WE were not able to succeed. I am saying WE because WE may belong to a different ethnicity, geographical location, etc…but WE are part of the global LGBT community. We may not have same sex marriages here in the Philippines but we are part of the community that is being discriminated by hypocrites. Continue reading “My views on Prop 8”

Here are the synopsis of the chosen films to be shown at mag:net’s CineKatipunan:

D.E.B.S.Showing Date: November 8, 4:30pm to 6:30pm

“Recruited by the U.S. government for their unique ability to lie, cheat and fight, Amy, Max, Janet and Dominique join an underground academy of secret agents known only as D.E.B.S. these crime fighting hotties set out to save the world and keep their lipstick perfectly applied while doing so. Now the girls must combine their skills for their most important mission — to capture vexing vixen Lucy Diamond, the deadliest criminal the world has ever known. When D.E.B.S. star player, Amy, falls for Lucy, chaos erupts and the D.E.B.S. loyalty is put to the test.”

Winner of Berlin International Film Festival Reader Jury of the “Siegessäule” and Nominated for Black Movie Award in the Black Movie Awards.

The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in LoveShowing Date: November 15, 4:30pm to 6:30pm

“This warm romantic comedy by newcomer Maria Maggenti is a gay coming-of-age story framed by Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. Randy (Laurel Hillman) is a stoner, lesbian teenager who happens to be failing math and dating a married woman. One day, fellow student Evie (Nicole Parker) drives up to Randy’s gas station in a Range Rover and flips her world upside down. Evie is privileged and popular. Randy is poor, impulsive, and according to the other students, a freak. Opposites attract when the two girls kick off their friendship in detention. The flirtation blossoms after Evie introduces tomboyish Randy to the joys of Whitman and opera. Randy returns the favor by acquainting the sheltered Evie with the problems and delights of mature, taboo love. There is a beautiful scene where the two consummate their courtship on Evie’s birthday while Mom is out of town. The true test of their relationship occurs during the hilarious climax when angry families and friends chase the troubled girls into hiding. –Margaret Griffis”

“American independent filmmaker Sascha Rice makes her feature debut with Mango Kiss, based on the stage play Bermuda Triangles: The Non-Monogamy Experiment. Butch Lou (Michelle Wolff) and femme Sassafras (Daniele Ferraro) drive to San Francisco together, share an apartment, and become lovers in an open relationship. They agree on some very specific rules for dating other people that inevitably become complicated. Sassy gets involved with leather daddy Mickey (Shannon Rossiter) while Lou experiments with glamorous dominatrix Chelsea (Tina Marie Murray). The conclusion finds all four lesbians at the same birthday party. Mango Kiss was shown at the San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide”

Come Undone is a beautifully observed portrait of the experiences of a young French homosexual. Eschewing both stereotypes and preaching, it’s a wonderfully naturalistic film, superbly acted, shot with a feel for the seaside town where the action takes place, never melodramatic but often painfully real. If anything it’s almost too realistic, as there’s little in the way of conventional plot, just scenes from a life. But the absence of conventional dramatic tension counts for less than it might in a world so subtly drawn. ‘Presque Rien’ might not be the most exciting film ever made; but its simple humanism serves it well compared with the pre-conceived celebratory or bigoted viewpoints that often mar treatments of this theme. Worth a watch.

“Babae (Woman) is a coming of age story of two women set in the city slum community beside railroad tracks. They became bestfriends, shared dreams and eventually started a family when a child accidentally entered their lives. Inserts of Real stories of women and a man gives color to this black and white film. a mixture of drama, comedy, musical and fantasy that will surely touch your heart. Babae (Woman) … Bestfriends… Soulmates… One Journey…”

Starting November 8 and the rest of all Saturdays of November, Galang Network will have film screenings of foreign LGBT films at mag:net Katipunan. Admissions to the screenings is free and the LGBT films that will be shown will be based on the results of the online poll. Even though it’s free, it would be nice to donate a minimum amount of 50 pesos to support GALANG’s work among grassroots LGBTs.

Our Chart is the official social network of the popular TV series, The L Word. The people behind the website are: Ilene Chaiken (CEO), Jennifer Beals (Founding Partner), Leisha Hailey (Founding Partner), Katherine Moennig (Founding Partner) and Hilary Rosen (Co-founder and Board Member). The L Word fans could sign up for a free membership on the website and interact with the other members who are as well The L Word fans. There are about 700+ members there who are located in the Philippines.

Task Force Pride, the official network that has been organizing the annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride March since 1999, would like to invite you and your organization/group to participate in this year’s celebration of LGBT Pride in Malate on 6 December 2008, Saturday, 3 PM to 5 PM.Theme. This years Pride March is a tribute to the last 10 years of LGBT human rights advocacy. Hence, the theme is: A decade of dignity: Our rights, our lives, our loves, our selves.Route. The route of this year’s march is: Remedios Circle-Adriatico St.-P.Faura-Roxas Blvd.-Rajah Sulayman-Remedios Circle-Adriatico St.-Nakpil St.-Orosa St .The march will be followed by a brief cultural program showcasing both LGBT and non-LGBT talents.Significance. The Pride March is known for its overwhelming attendance. It attracts thousands of participants and generates extensive local and international media attention.This year’s Pride March is particularly significant as it coincides with the celebration of the 60th year of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the launch in Manila of the Yogyakarta Principles (www.yogyakartaprinciples.org), an international declaration which affirms sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as fundamental human rights.

We hope that you will choose to make this year’s Pride celebration a more festive, colorful and meaningful event with your participation. Should you have inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact Bruce Amoroto, head of our Participation Committee at 0916.282.6781 (bruce.amoroto@gmail.com) or Peach Natividad, head of our Program Committee at 0917.539.2742 (peach_rmn@hotmail.com).